Massachusetts Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Laws 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 15 jurisdictions across Massachusetts. Select a city below for current permit requirements, tax rates, and compliance details.
Massachusetts at a glance
- Places tracked
- 15 places: 5 active, 3 conditional, 7 restricted
- License or registration
- Required in 13 of 14 local places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in 10 of 14 local places
- State law
- Massachusetts requires every short-term rental operator to register each property with the Department of Revenue and collect the state room occupancy excise (5.7% per the Department) on stays of 31 days or less, under…. Statewide rules ›
Massachusetts short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Massachusetts?
In all 15 places we track in Massachusetts, short-term rentals are allowed, 10 of them with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Massachusetts?
13 of 14 local places we track in Massachusetts require a license, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a statewide short-term rental law in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires every short-term rental operator to register each property with the Department of Revenue and collect the state room occupancy excise (5.7% per the Department) on stays of 31 days or less, under….
Which places in Massachusetts have the strictest rules?
On our records: Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Cambridge, Salem, Provincetown, Cape Cod.
Counties in Massachusetts
Compare every Massachusetts market
Status, licensing, fees, taxes, night caps and penalties for all 15 places in one table, with CSV export and full audits.
State Access →Massachusetts Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Massachusetts encompasses 15 tracked jurisdictions: 5 with active regulations, 3 where rentals are allowed with conditions, 7 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
14 of 15 tracked jurisdictions in Massachusetts require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 11 of 15 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Cambridge. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors Massachusetts STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.